The RCMP is spending almost $20 million more to charter cruise ships for the 2010 Winter Olympics' security force than it expected to pay in 2008.
The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit announced a $76-million contract yesterday with Holland America Line of Seattle and Carnival Cruise Line of Miami to supply three luxury liners to accommodate cops and troops at Ballantyne Pier. The two companies are owned by Miami and London-headquartered Carnival Corporation.
Since its original $57 million contract with Cruise Connections Charter Management of North Carolina, the value of the Canadian dollar has dropped. When it announced the contract last June, the RCMP said it was worth $37.8 million. However, the RCMP canceled the reservation on Nov. 19, 2008 and Cruise Connections filed a breach of contract lawsuit in Washington, D.C.
The new request for proposals published last December said at least 1,100 beds were needed beginning Jan. 12, 2010. The requirement balloons to 5,300 beds for Jan. 28-March 2, 2010.
The contract means the RCMP has announced $203.9 million of spending since last Thursday.
The original $175 million taxpayer-funded Games' security budget was increased to $900 million on Feb. 20.
